Structural biology studies the physical structure of macromolecules, such as nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, which play important biological roles. Researchers observe polymerization and errors to understand how macromolecules work and link errors to real-world problems. Specialized tools like electron microscopy and crystallography are used to visualize structures. A doctoral degree is often required, and researchers may work in academic, pharmaceutical, or scientific research environments. Structural biology can be competitive, and researchers may also work on developing imaging equipment and techniques.
Structural biology is a field of science that deals with the physical structure of macromolecules, literally “large molecules”. Macromolecules are of immense biological importance, playing a role in everything from passing on genetic inheritance to modulating immune system responses, and understanding how these molecules are formed can help researchers learn more about how they work. Biochemistry, molecular biology, and biophysics are all involved in structural biology.
Macromolecules are formed through a process known as polymerization, where simple molecules known as monomers are assembled to create a larger three-dimensional structure. The shape of the structure determines how it will function, and small changes in shape or composition can radically alter the functions of a macromolecule. Structural biologists observe how polymerization occurs and what happens when errors emerge. They also link the errors with real-world problems, such as tumors that form when DNA is damaged or diseases that disrupt the function of macromolecules in the immune system.
Nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids are all macromolecules. Researchers may choose to study the static structure of molecules to learn what they would look like under normal conditions, and they may also watch molecules assemble through polymerization to watch the process as it happens. For example, protein folding, the process used to build proteins, can be fascinating to study, and subtle variations in construction can be important to see in action.
Macromolecules may be large, but they are not large enough to be seen without the use of specialized tools such as electron microscopy and crystallography. Structural biology involves a great deal of patient work in the laboratory with sophisticated equipment designed to help people visualize the structures they are studying. As a result, it can be quite expensive to maintain a structural biology laboratory and support staff.
People who are interested in structural biology as a career should plan to spend a lot of time in school, as many people in the field have at least a doctoral degree. People may work in academic research environments, pharmaceutical laboratories, and scientific research facilities. Structural biology can be quite competitive, with great pressure placed on researchers to publish and make discoveries in the field. Researchers may also choose to work on projects such as developing the next generation of imaging equipment and techniques, applying structural biology skills to create the equipment that will fuel further research and discovery.
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